14. Sarah's Battle

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Yes, the story is going to end soon. I hoped you enjoyed it so far. Thanks for the nice reveiws. I might do another one, but I plan to go back on my novel I'm working on. I will let you know on my profile page. Thank you. ^_^

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Sarah let out a heavy sigh as she entered the throne room. She ran her hand through her hair. She couldn't believe the boy shoved her. She should have taken him back to the beginning, but she figured he would get lost in the garden like she did till she met the Wise Man. She saw Jareth sitting on his throne with one leg propped up on the arm. He was playing with the baby girl.

Jareth turned to her and said in a loud voice, "I thought I told you to take him back to the beginning." The baby grabbed a hold of his hair and pulled hard as she could. He looked at her saw that she was giggling. "Spirited little thing."

"He'll get lost in the garden." She said as she sat down. "I kept going in circles in that one for a while."

"Yes, you had Hedgewart's help at that." The baby began to drool as she chewed on her fingers.

Sarah watched the baby for a moment and asked, "What did you do to Toby while I was in the Labyrinth?"

"Nothing." He answered. "I played with him and kept him happy while I was watching you." He made a crystal and set it on a stand. The image of Jake appeared. The boy was biting his nails as he made a turn.

"Since I have the book now, Jareth." She was still watching the baby. "How do I go back to my parents' home?" That was the first time she ever said that.

Jareth noticed that instantly and smiled. "Just think about it and you are there. If you say that phrase, then you are stuck there till I come and get you." He paused for a moment and watched her nod. "Take the book with you and hide it somewhere in the house, that way you can come and go as you please." He turned back to the crystal.

Sarah looked at it and was puzzled. "Where is he? I never saw that part of the Labyrinth before." She saw Jake standing against a black wall.

"The Oubliette again. It's nothing but a huge chamber." He placed his boot back down on the floor and stood up. He gave her the baby and gave her that look. "It's my turn."



Jake wiped his hand on his shorts as he stopped and looked to see which way he could go. He was thinking about how much time he had left. He knew he wasn't making any progress and was tired. He started to walk again and turned to the left. Then he saw a crystal ball go by his foot. "What the?" he said and followed it around the next corner. It stopped in front of a pair of black boots. His eyes went up and saw Jareth glaring at him.

"Well, Jake, I see you made your way back in here again." The Goblin King said as he kneeled down and picked the ball up. He stared into the boy's eyes.

"No, I didn't." Jake blurted out.

"How do you like my Labyrinth?" Jareth asked as he stood up. He rolled the crystal around in his hands.

Jake gulped. "It's weird. It keeps changing. It isn't fair and you're cheating." He glared his eyes at him.

Jareth gave him a smug look, "Cheating? I have done nothing of the sort. This isn't like your play station, Jake. You can't hit restart." He walked behind the boy. "You can quit now and go home."

"Really?" He asked. "But what about my sister?"

Jareth smiled, "She stays here. We haven't had a new goblin girl in a long time." He flicked his wrist and threw the crystal in the air.

Jake jumped up and caught it. Then he threw it on the ground and the crystal shattered, "You bastard! I want Amanda back now!"

This made Jareth mad. "You want to toy with me, boy?" He pressed his hands together and made another one. "Let's see how you like this." He threw it down the tunnel and the Cleaners appeared. Jareth turned and disappeared as Jake screamed. The boy ran off.

"Got pissed, I see." Sarah replied as Jareth slumped down on his throne. She held the baby on her chest. Amanda was asleep.

"I don't like being cursed at in my own Labyrinth." He said as he turned his gaze to the crystal. Jake was running wildly. You could here him pant as he ran into a door.

Sarah patted Amanda on the back. "She fell asleep a few moments after you left." She looked up at the clock. Jake had six hours left.

He turned his gaze toward her and smiled. She looked like a loving mother with the baby on her. "Toby never did fall asleep. He must have known something was up."

"Yea, we could never have gotten him to take a nap during the holidays." Sarah said. "He would pass out an hour before his bedtime or in the tub."

They said nothing else for a while as they stared into each other's eyes. Sarah was beginning to realize how Jareth must have felt dealing with her in the Labyrinth. She never imagined feeling the anticipation watching someone making his or her way in this realm. It was kind of exciting to her. She hoped Jake would make it. Sarah thought they had enough goblins already. She turned her gaze to the crystal as Jake escaped the Cleaners. He climbed up another ladder. He entered the Junkyard.

Jareth lowered his head and closed his eyes. This was the first time he ever had a baby sleeping in the castle. They used to scream and cry. He would play with them to keep them happy. He really didn't like them crying. He didn't want the sounds carry out outside the castle and his realm. Those human babies cries were pretty loud in the Underground.

"He's getting closer to the castle." She said as Jareth opened his eyes and turned to the crystal. "He ran into the Junk lady." It was the same one she met.

"He's smarter than I thought." He leaned in closer to the crystal. "They will stop him." Jake yawned. "He's getting tired. He'll see his room and would think it's a dream." Jareth replied and glanced at Sarah. She was dozing off.

Jake yawned really big and then saw his room, "My bed!" He ran and jumped on it. He pulled the covers over him and passed out.



"Sarah, wake up." Jareth said. He took the baby off of her. He set Amanda down in the pit. He went back to her and shook her leg gently, "Sarah, wake up."

She opened her eyes and raised her head. "What is it?" She looked up at the clock. Jake had an hour left.

"He woke up." He replied.

She turned to the crystal. Jake was banging on the door of his room. He was trying to get out. He kicked it opened and ran out. He turned toward the gate of the Goblin City. "He's coming here."

Jareth ordered. "I want you to meet him now. Stall him as much as possible." He turned to the goblins. "Hide the baby."

Sarah stood up slowly and sighed. She dodged the goblins as they ran a muck. She didn't have a plan. She didn't know what to say to Jake. She ran down the stairs and the castle gate opened. She went down the courtyard and through the town. As she passed some of the citizens, they bowed their heads in respect. She stopped in front of the gate as it opened. She took a deep breath to slow down her breathing.

Jake jumped. He was surprised to see her there. "Where's my sister?" He demanded.

"Safe at the moment." Sarah said calmly as she placed her hands behind her back. A few goblins peeked through their windows as they watched their queen.

"I want her and I don't know how much time I have left." He said as he took a step forward.

You have to go through Me.," replied Sarah as she shifted her weight. She decided to change subjects. "How did you get the book?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "What book?"

Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, "The Labyrinth one."

Jake took a side step and tried to pass her. "I don't know."

"Really?" She stopped him and pushed him back. "I really need to know, Jake." She stared into his eyes.

"I took it from the library. I thought it would be an action one. It was a sappy one." He said. "I never took it back, because we moved out of state." He looked up at the castle. "Now get out of my way." He pushed her in the stomach and started to run.

Sarah swung her leg and kicked his left shin. She watched him fall on his face. "Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you yet."

Jake rubbed his nose and looked up at her. "Get out of my way, bitch." He stood up and then saw four goblins standing in front of him. "Amanda!" He yelled. He looked at them. "Get out of my way!"

"They won't unless I tell them to." Sarah said with satisfaction in her voice. She was enjoying herself. "Why did you wish your sister away?"

Jake turned to her. "Mom and Dad were always playing with her more than me. I wanted her gone so they would pay more attention to me."

"Babies can't take care of themselves, Jake." Sarah said in a calm voice. "They need you to help them. Your parents do love you."

Jake was tapping his foot. "Yea. Yea. I heard all that crap before. I just want her so I won't be in trouble with them."

"How do you know if they would remember her?" Sarah asked. She wondered that herself.

Jake shrugged, "I don't know." He looked down the ground and tried to remember what happened at the end of the book. He knew it had something to do with what was going on at the moment. Then he smiled and grinned at her, "Ha!" He pointed at her. "I know what you are trying to do to me. It won't work!" He walked up to her and said. "You have no power over me!"

Sarah smiled and turned away. She headed back to the castle as Jake disappeared. The goblins moaned in disappointment.



Jareth saw the whole thing from the castle. He waited for Sarah in their chambers. He sat down at the table and drummed his fingers as she came in. "Didn't bother to think about ordering the goblins to capture him."

Sarah sighed, "Did you really wanted another goblin?" She headed to the bathroom.

"She might have better a lot smarter than these cretins." He said as she shut the door. Jareth smiled as he thought about what happened. He didn't care which way it went. He knew Sarah was happy and that was that. He stood up and went over to the bed. He thought about what she is going to do in the morning. He knew that she was going home. She has no idea what's going to happen, he thought. He decided that he should go with her.